Teresa Norton, Founder, StarMaker HK, conducts the first in a series of dialogues with her son and business partner, Sam Bobertz.
Teresa: Sam, I wanted to talk with you today about authenticity because it's a term that's used a lot these days and because I think it has a specific meaning to people your age. The term is relatively new in terms of business vernacular. In the past, we'd probably refer to something more like being candid or acting natural, and we'd be talking about presentation style. What does "authenticity" mean to you?
Sam: I guess the main thing that comes up for me is: Why it is such a buzzword these days? What is sparking the need for that definition? Why is that something people are demanding and/or expecting? I think it's partly because we grew up in and continue to find ourselves immersed in a world of entertainment, advertisements and marketing. I'm not suggesting that these things are inherently bad. However, we are surrounded by a sort of picturesque, very curated view of things. There is a more organic desire from people as a response, as a counterpoint, to what we find ourselves swimming through. In this media-saturated world, we're looking for a little bit more sincerity in the way we engage with one another.
What that means, as far as I can tell, is more transparency with one's agenda and intentions. In a sales situation, for instance, not pretending that we're here to just be friends. The fact that we can connect as human beings and potentially could be friends would be great, but I'm here in a professional capacity to have a conversation with you about how this product might be of value to you.
Teresa: So, it's about being more upfront? About not disguising your agenda?
Sam: Yes, I think that resonates with people a lot more these days. Arguably, it probably would have always resonated, but we've kind of historically had, for whatever reason, an expectation that the message needs to be polished and "arranged" in a particular way to be effective. I think we're discovering that being more transparent is a better way to connect.
Teresa: Another thing that comes up for me is that on LinkedIn, I have noticed over just the last year or so, the posts are a lot more personal. You and I have talked about this, and you have sort of guided me in making my postings more conversational. But I have to say I'm still not 100% convinced, probably because when I first got on LinkedIn, it was "strictly business". Facebook was for the personal stuff, and LinkedIn was just for the work-related conversations. But more and more, I see people sharing about their family life or personal issues. Can you talk to me a little bit about why you think that is?
Sam: I think it's probably connected to the initial point around looking for authenticity. I think (and you correct me if I'm wrong) a lot of what you see on LinkedIn is people using things that are going on in their lives as a jumping-off point to talk about things in the business world. That's certainly what I'm doing, and it's what I've seen or observed others doing as well. I mean, there may be people who are out there saying, this is what I've had for lunch, and this is a concert I went to, but I'd imagine in some way, shape or form - just given the context of what LinkedIn is- there's going to be some kernel there that links it back to "This inspires the creativity in me and ways in which I could be more creative as a professional".
Teresa: Okay. So, if the idea is to not have a hidden agenda, is using your personal life as a jumping-off point to make a business point being transparent? Or are we leveraging our personal life to try and squeeze in a business angle?
Sam: Yeah, I guess linking that back to my initial point, I don't necessarily think it's inauthentic, assuming you're saying, "Hey, this is part of who I am, and this is what it made me think of. Could it be a calculated choice? Maybe, but I don't think that's less sincere. It's like seeing friends at a family gathering and editing your language in consideration of the fact that there might be little children or grandparents present. It's just being thoughtful.
Teresa: Yeah, that's great. That's a good way of putting it. Self-editing for the benefit of your "audience". So, being authentic isn't a license to be thoughtless in choosing your words, but it is about being open about who you are and why you're engaging in conversation - whether you're in a meeting, on a sales call, during a presentation or posting on LinkedIn?
Sam: Yes. Holding some of that organic more kind of natural and authentic communication style and in a way people, on mass, asking for permission to be themselves. Not feeling you have to perform to "win" people over.
Paul Arkwright
Publisher
